Only one bin? You’ll have to use five, says council

HOUSEHOLDERS in Dumfries and Galloway will soon have to use not one but five rubbish bins.

The local council has had a one bin policy since 2007 when it opened a specialist waste facility that sorts through rubbish.

But now, thanks to Scottish Government ‘zero waste’ regulations, the council – run by Labour and the SNP – is having to bring in five separate recycling containers at a cost of almost £4million and two new waste management centres costing £20million.

Alex Fergusson, Scottish Tory MSP for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale, said he was ‘horrified’ at the move.

He added: ‘This has all cost the council tax payers an exorbitant amount of unnecessary money, but it has been brought about by the Scottish Government’s inflexible interpretation of EU rules.’

Dumfries and Galloway Council is unusual among UK local authorities, providing only one wheelie bin per household. But new regulations mean separate bins are being reintroduced – and two new processing facilities built.

The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 require the separate collection of paper, card, glass, metals and plastics for recycling as well as food waste.

South Scotland Lib Dem MSP Jim Hume said: ‘This has already met with huge public opposition and efforts to engage communities will have to be immense for the region to meet its targets – another costly exercise for the council to bear.’